Many of the Rings the dwarves were given were lost. Devoured by dragons some believe. Those given to Men turned them into the Ringwraiths. The Elves managed to keep theirs and like you said the Ring of Fire was given to Gandalf the Grey.
The Ring of Fire could have helped Gandalf in his battle against the Balrog. After all there really isn't anything in the novels that gives you a clear view of what happened. All we know is that both Gandalf and the Balrog died but Gandalf returned as Gandalf the White.
Originally posted by DanielLB
Narya of couse did have power, but in no way, does the quote suggest that it helped defeat the Balrog. There is no reference of Narya giving Gandalf (a wizard.....a Maia) power to defeat another Maiar.I might be wrong, but someone fill me in if i am 🙂
well it doesn't say "hey this ring I'm wearing gives me the power to kick your but..." I t is a good guess tough. what else could, the secret fire, the flame of arnor be? elrond galadriel and gandalf are all hiding their ring from sauron, the secret fire.
and by the way I can't find anything saying that the isdari, the balrogs, the dragons and so on.. are maiar. yes I know wikipedia says so... where did they find that. I can't remember silmarillion saying anything about that... but it's been a while sense I read it. 🙂
Race: Wielded by Gandalf, a Maia
Pronunciation: 'Anor' is pronounced ah'nor
Meaning: 'Anor' is literally the Sun
"'You cannot pass,' he said. The orcs stood still, and a dead silence fell. 'I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass."
Gandalf's challenge to the Balrog
from The Fellowship of the Ring II 5 The Bridge of Khazad-dûm
A mysterious power claimed by Gandalf in the face of Durin's Bane. It is nowhere else referred to, and so its particular meaning remains unclear. Anor is the Sun, and so literally the 'flame of Anor' would be the light of the Sun, which originated in the fiery fruit of Laurelin, one of the Two Trees of Valinor. Gandalf seems to be referring, then, to the power he gains as a servant of the Lords of the West, in defiance to the corrupted darkness of the Balrog.
Alternatively, it has been suggested that Gandalf is referring here to Narya, the Ring of Fire that he bore. This idea certainly fits with the notion that he was the 'wielder' of the Ring, and that it had a fiery character. However, it seems highly unlikely that Gandalf would want to reveal his ownership of a Ring of Power - a matter of utmost secrecy - to one of his greatest enemies.
Actually, the 'flame of Anor' seems to have been a product of simple textual evolution. The earliest forms of this passage were variations on: 'I am the master of White Flame. The Red Fire cannot come this way' (and one variation mixes in the idea of Black Shadow, too). These terms seem to be symbolic - 'white' for the powers of good, but 'red' or 'black' for Sauron and his servants. As the text developed, the 'Red Fire' and 'Black Shadow' were lost. The 'White Flame' remained, but developed into the more poetic 'flame of Anor'. On this reading, then, the 'flame of Anor' doesn't refer to a specific thing, but is Gandalf's way of announcing what he stands for, or perhaps his power as a servant of the Valar. This seems to give further support to the first possibility mentioned above. (The original texts for this passage are found in The History of Middle-earth volume 7, X The Mines of Moria (2): The Bridge).
All that was found at a website named "The Encyclopedia Of Arda" it is mostly theoretical however its another idea on the table.
Originally posted by thefallen544
Race: Wielded by Gandalf, a Maia
Pronunciation: 'Anor' is pronounced ah'nor
Meaning: 'Anor' is literally the SunAlternatively, it has been suggested that Gandalf is referring here to Narya, the Ring of Fire that he bore. This idea certainly fits with the notion that he was the 'wielder' of the Ring, and that it had a fiery character. However, it seems highly unlikely that Gandalf would want to reveal his ownership of a Ring of Power - a matter of utmost secrecy - to one of his greatest enemies.
It's a good way to scare your enemy, and sauron is not in control of the balrogs. so it wouldn't matter much if he was about to kill the balrog anyway...
Hrm admittedly so, but I don't think Gandalf revealed that he bore Narya to any of the ones he travelled with, not even Aragorn. If Sauron was to capture any of the fellowship and such a thing was to slip. Or if the word that Gandalf carried one of the Elven rings then Sauron would undoubtedly come for it the three elven rings being the only ones to escape his grasp. Thats just my theory, I also do not presume that a Balrog a fellow Maia would be quaking in the proverbial boots at Gandalf proclaiming he has a magic ring.
Although thats just my opinion, I have more of a leaning towards the light of the sun, originating from the trees in Valinor and thus his power of servitude to the lords of the west versus the blackness of the dark fire. It seems to me actually more of a statement of defiance and threat in battle to proclaim the names of the Valar Lords of the West, than to imply in battle "I have a magic ring".
One final quote from the Encyclopedia of Arda "Gandalf bore it in secret for more than two thousand years, until after the Downfall of Barad-dûr and the destruction of Sauron." in referring to Narya, as said before I don't think he told anyone he had it only three other people would have known truly what Gandalf carried, Elrond, Cirdan and Galadriel.
Originally posted by thefallen544
Hrm admittedly so, but I don't think Gandalf revealed that he bore Narya to any of the ones he travelled with, not even Aragorn. If Sauron was to capture any of the fellowship and such a thing was to slip. Or if the word that Gandalf carried one of the Elven rings then Sauron would undoubtedly come for it the three elven rings being the only ones to escape his grasp. Thats just my theory, I also do not presume that a Balrog a fellow Maia would be quaking in the proverbial boots at Gandalf proclaiming he has a magic ring.Although thats just my opinion, I have more of a leaning towards the light of the sun, originating from the trees in Valinor and thus his power of servitude to the lords of the west versus the blackness of the dark fire. It seems to me actually more of a statement of defiance and threat in battle to proclaim the names of the Valar Lords of the West, than to imply in battle "I have a magic ring".
One final quote from the Encyclopedia of Arda "Gandalf bore it in secret for more than two thousand years, until after the Downfall of Barad-dûr and the destruction of Sauron." in referring to Narya, as said before I don't think he told anyone he had it only three other people would have known truly what Gandalf carried, Elrond, Cirdan and Galadriel.
Four. Saruman knew Gandalf bore the ring of fire and because of that his anger grew for he believed he deserved the ring and not Gandalf and because of that he made a lesser ring of power.
Aye yes Saurman, I did say this but deleted it from my reply before posting, I didn't have the nessecary quote to back me up so rather than state it I left it out (Especially since it may give evolution to the question "why didn't he tell Sauron?" as for why he didn't I assume his own greed for the rings power would prevent him from telling everything).
Saurman apparently saw Cirdan giving the ring to Gandalf and thus his jelousy began. Apparently he also experimented in making his own magic rings but if he had any success is unknown to me, I know he wore a ring of some such.
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I'm actually quite interested in the story of the forging of the rings by Celebrimbor and the Elven Smiths and their ultimate betrayal, I shall indeed be re-reading certain areas now.
I don't think that Tolkien put anything in his books that were just "conincidence". If Gandalf fought the Balrog and specificly mentioned fire and since we KNOW Gandalf wore the Ring of Narya then that was a specific link I am sure. As Exa said the elven rings had mainly protective powers so I am sure that Gandalf's ring gave him at least a small level of protection against the Balrog's "fire".
I do have to say.... Exa! Long time no see!